Sermons on Various Subjects Volume 1, Sermon 8
SERMON VIII.
The Indwelling of the Spirit, the common Privilege of all Believers.
JOHN vii. 37, 38, 39.
In the laſt Day, that great Day of the Feaſt, JESUS ſtood and cried, ſaying, If any Man thirſt, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath ſaid, out of his Belly ſhall ſlow Rivers of living Water.
But this ſpake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him ſhould receive.
NOTHING has render'd the Croſs of CHRIST of leſs Effect, nothing has been a greater ſtumbling Block and Rock of Offence to weak Minds, than a Suppoſition, now current among us, that moſt of what is contained in the Goſpel of JESUS CHRIST, was deſign'd only for our LORD's firſt and immediate Followers, and conſequently calculated for one or two hundred Years.—Accordingly many now read the Life, Sufferings, Death and Reſurrection of JESUS CHRIST, in the ſame Manner as learned Men read Caeſar's Commentaries, or the Conqueſts of Alexander; as Things rather intended to afford Matter for Speculation, than to be acted over again in and by us.
As this is true of the Doctrines of the Goſpel in general, ſo it is in particular of the Operations of GOD's Spirit upon the Hearts of Believers for we no ſooner mention the Neceſſity of our receiving the Holy Ghoſt in theſe laſt Days, as well as formerly; but we are look'd upon by ſome, as Enthuſiaſts and Madmen; and, by others, repreſented as wilfully deceiving the People, and undermining the eſtabliſhed Conſtitution of the Church.
Judge ye then, my Brethren, whether it is not high Time for the true Miniſters of JESUS CHRIST, who have been themſelves made Partakers of this heavenly Gift, to lift up their Voices like a Trumpet; and if they would not have thoſe Souls periſh for which the LORD JESUS has ſhed his precious Blood, to declare with all Boldneſs, that the Holy Spirit is the common Privilege and Portion … in all Ages; and that we alſo, as well as the firſt Chriſtians, muſt receive the Holy Ghoſt e'er we can be truly called the Children of GOD.
For this Reaſon (and alſo that I … Anſwer the Deſign of our Church in … the preſent Feſtival) I have choſen the … of the Text.
They were ſpoken by JESUS CHRIST, when, as the Evangeliſt tells us, he was at the Feaſt of Tabernacles. Our LORD (herein leading all an Example) attended on the Temple-ſervice in general, and the Feſtivals of the Jewiſh Church in particular.—The Feſtival at which he was now preſent, was that of the Feaſt of Tabernacles which the Jews obſerved according to GOD's Appointment in Commemoration of their living in Tents.—At the laſt Day of this Feaſt it was cuſtomary for many pious People to fetch Water from a certain Place, and bring it on their Heads, ſinging this Anthem out of Iſaiah, And with Joy ſhall they draw Water out of the Wells of Salvation.—Our dear Lord JESUS obſerving this, and it being his conſtant Practice to ſpiritualize every Thing he met with, cries out, If any Man thirſteth, let him come unto me, rather than unto that Well, and drink.—He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath ſpoken, (where it is ſaid, GOD will make Water ſpring out of a dry Rock, and ſuch like) out of his Belly ſhall flow Rivers of living Water.—And that we might know what our Saviour meant by this living Water, the Evangeliſt immediately adds, But this … of the Spirit, which they that believe on him … receive.
Theſe laſt Words I ſhall chiefly inſiſt on in the enſuing Diſcourſe, and ſhall treat on them in the following Manner.
Firſt, I ſhall briefly ſhew what is meant by the Word Spirit.
Secondly, I ſhall ſhew that this Spirit is the common Privilege of all Believers.
Thirdly, I ſhall ſhew the Reaſon on which this Doctrine is founded.
Laſtly, I ſhall conclude with a general Exhortation, to believe on JESUS CHRIST, whereby alone we can be qualified to receive this Spirit.
And, Firſt, I am briefly to ſhew what is meant by the Spirit.
By the Spirit, or the Holy Ghoſt, is to be underſtood the third Perſon in the ever bleſſed Trinity, conſubſtantial and co-eternal with the Father and the Son, proceeding from, yet equal to them both—For to uſe the Words of our Church in this Day's Office, that which we believe of the Glory of the Father, the ſame we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt, without any Difference or Inequality.
Thus ſays St.John, in his firſt Epiſtle, Chap. v. Ver. 7. There are Three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt, and theſe Three are one. And our LORD when he gave his Apoſtles Commiſſion to go and teach all Nations, commands them to baptize in the Name of the Holy Ghoſt, as well as of the Father and the Son.—And St. Peter, Acts v. Ver.3. ſaid to Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine Heart to lie to the Holy Ghoſt? And, Ver.4. he ſays, Thou haſt not lied unto Men, but unto GOD.—From all which Paſſages, it is plain▪ that the Holy Ghoſt, is truly and properly GOD, as well as the Father and the Son. This is an unſpeakable Myſtery, but a Myſtery of GOD's revealing, and therefore to be aſſented to with our whole Hearts.—Seeing GOD is not a Man that he ſhould lie, nor the Son of Man that he ſhould deceive.
I proceed, Secondly, to prove that the Holy Ghoſt is the common Privilege of all Believers.
But, here I would not be underſtood of ſo receiving the Holy Ghoſt, as to enable us to work Miracles, or ſhew outward Signs and Wonders. For I allow our Adverſaries, that to pretend to be inſpired, in this Senſe, is being wiſe above what is written. Perhaps it cannot be proved, that GOD ever interpoſed in this extraordinary Manner, but when ſome new Revelation was to be eſtabliſhed, as at the firſt ſettling of the Moſaick and Goſpel Diſpenſation.—And as for my own Part, I cannot but ſuſpect the Spirit of thoſe who inſiſt upon a Repetition of ſuch Miracles at this Time.—For the World being now become nominally Chriſtian, at leaſt, (though GOD knows, little of the Power is left among us) there need not outward Miracles, but only an inward Co-operation of the Holy Spirit with the Word, to prove that JESUS is that Meſſiah which was to come into the World.
Beſides, it is poſſible for thee, O Man, to have Faith, ſo as to be able to remove Mountains, or caſt out Devils; nay, thou mighteſt ſpeak with the Tongue of Men and Angels, yea, and bid the Sun ſtand ſtill in the midſt of Heaven; yet, what would all theſe Gifts of the Spirit avail thee, without being made Partaker of his ſanctifying Graces? Saul had the Spirit of Government for a while, ſo as to become another Man, and yet was a Caſtaway.—And many, who caſt out Devils in CHRIST's Name, at the laſt will be diſowned by him. If therefore thou hadſt only the Gifts, but was deſtitute of the Graces of the Holy Ghoſt, they would only ſerve to lead thee with ſo much the more Solemnity to Hell.
Here then, I ſay, we join iſſue with our Adverſaries, and will readily grant, that we are not in this Senſe to be inſpired, as were our LORD's firſt Apoſtles. But unleſs Men have Eyes which ſee not, and Ears which hear not, how can they read the latter Part of the Text, and not confeſs that the Holy Spirit, in another Senſe, is the common Privilege of all Believers, even to the End of the World?—This ſpake be of the Spirit, which they that believe on him … receive.—Obſerve, he does not ſay, they that believe on him for one or two Ages, but they that believe on him in general, i. e. at all Times, and in all Places.—So that unleſs we can prove that St. John was under a Deluſion when he wrote theſe Words, we muſt believe … we even we alſo, ſhall receive the Holy Ghoſt, … we believe on the Lord JESUS with our whole Hearts.
Again, our LORD, juſt before his bitter Paſſion, when he was about to offer up … Soul an Offering for the Sins of the Wor… when his Heart was moſt enlarged, and he would undoubtedly demand the moſt excellent Gift for his Diſciples, prays, that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they alſo may be one in us.—I in them, and thou in me, that they be made perfect in one; that is, that all his true Followers might be united to him by his Holy Spirit, by as real, vital, and myſtical an Union, as there is between JESUS CHRIST and the Father. I ſay all his true Followers▪—For it is evident from our LORD's own Words, that he had us and all Believers in View, when he put up this Prayer.—Neither pray I for theſe alone, but for them alſo which ſhall believe on me through their Word; ſo that, unleſs we treat our LORD as the High Prieſts did, and count him a Blaſphemer; we muſt confeſs, that all who believe in JESUS CHRIST, through the Word or Miniſtration of the Apoſtles, are to be joyned to JESUS CHRIST, by being made Partakers of the Holy Spirit.
There's a great Noiſe made of late, about the Word Enthuſiaſt, and it has been caſt upon the Preachers of the Goſpel, as a Term of Reproach.—But every Chriſtian, in the proper Senſ… of the Word, muſt be an Enthuſiaſt.—That is, muſt be inſpired of GOD, or have GOD in him. For who dares ſay, he is a Chriſtian, till he can ſay, GOD is in me? St. Peter tells us, we have many great and precious Promiſes, that we may be made Partakers of the Divine Nature.—Our LORD prays, that we may be one, as the Father and He are One; and our own Church, in Conformity to theſe Texts of Scripture, in her excellent Communion-Office, tells us, that thoſe who receive the Sacrament worthily, dwell in CHRIST, and CHRIST in them; that they are one with CHRIST, and CHRIST with them.—And yet Chriſtians in general, muſt have their Names caſt out as Evil, and Miniſters in particular muſt be looked upon as Deceivers of the People, for affirming, that we muſt be really united to GOD, … receiving the Holy Ghoſt. Be aſtoniſhed, O Heavens, at this!
Indeed, I will not ſay, our Letter-learned Preachers deny this Doctrine in expreſs Words.—But however, they do it in Effect.—For they talk profeſſedly againſt inward Feelings, and ſay, we may have GOD's Spirit without feeling it, which is in Reality to deny the Thing itſelf—And had I a Mind to hinder the Progreſs of the Goſpel, and to eſtabliſh the Kingdom of Darkneſs, I would go about, telling People, they might have the Spirit of GOD, and yet not feel it.
But to return,—When our LORD was about to aſcend to his Father, and our Father; to his GOD, and our GOD; … Apoſtles this Commiſſion, Go and …ea…h all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt.—By the Term, All Nations, 'tis allowed, are … that ſhould profeſs to believe on JESUS … even to the End of the World. And accordingly by Authority of this Commiſſion, we do baptize them in this and every Age of the Church.—And … this be true, then the Propoſition to be proved will be undeniable. For though we tranſlate theſe Words, baptizing them in the Name; yet as the Name of GOD, in the LORD's Prayer, and ſeveral other Places, ſignifies his Nature, they might as well be tranſlated thus, baptizing them into the Nature of the Father, into the Nature of the Son, and into the Nature of the Holy Ghoſt. And conſequently, if we are all to be baptized into the Nature of the Holy Ghoſt, e'er our Baptiſm be effectual to Salvation, it is evident, that we all muſt actually receive the Holy Ghoſt, e'er we can ſay, we truly believe in JESUS CHRIST. For no one can ſay, that JESUS is my LORD, but he that has thus received the Holy Ghoſt.
Numbers of other Texts might be quoted, to make this Doctrine, if poſſible, ſtill more plain.—But I am aſtoniſhed, that any, who call themſelves Members; much more, that many, who are Preachers of the Church of England, ſhould dare ſo much as open their Lips againſt it. And yet with Grief, GOD is my Judge, I ſpeak it, Perſons of the eſtabliſ… … ſeem, more generally to be ignorant of it, than any Diſſenters whatſoever.
But, good GOD! My dear Brethren, what have you been doing? How often have your Hearts given your Lips the Lie? How often have you offered GOD the Sacrifice of Fools, and had your Prayers turned into Sin, if you approve of, and uſe our excellent Church-Liturgy, and yet deny the Holy Spirit to be the Portion of all Believers? In the daily Abſolution, the Miniſter exhorts the People to pray, that GOD would grant them Repentance, and his Holy Spirit.—In the Collect for Chriſtmaſs Day, we beſeech GOD, that he would daily renew us by his Holy Spirit.—In the laſt Week's Collect we pray'd that we may evermore rejoice in the Comforts of the Holy Ghoſt.—And in the concluding Prayer, which we put up every Day, we pray not only, that the Grace of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, and the Love of GOD, but that the Fellowſhip of the Holy Ghoſt may be with us all evermore.
But farther,—A ſolemn Seaſon is now approaching, I mean the Ember-Days, at the End of which, all that are to be ordained to the Office of a Deacon, are in the Sight of GOD, and in the Preſence of the Congregation, to declare that they truſt they are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghoſt, to take upon them that Adminiſtration.—And to thoſe who are to be ordained Prieſts, the Biſhop is to repeat theſe ſolemn Words, Receive thou the Holy Ghoſt, now committed unto thee …y the Impoſition of our Hands.—And yet, Oh that I had no Reaſon to ſpeak it, many that uſe our Forms, and many that have witneſſed this good Confeſſion, yet dare talk and preach againſt the Neceſſity of receiving the Holy Ghoſt now, as well as formerly; and not only ſo, but cry out againſt thoſe, who do inſiſt upon it, as Madmen, Enthuſiaſts, Schiſmaticks, and Underminers of the Eſtabliſhed Conſtitution.
But you are the Schiſmaticks, you are the Bane of the Church of England, who are always crying out, the Temple of the LORD, the Temple of the LORD; and yet ſtarve the People out of our Communion, by feeding them only with the dry Huſks of dead Morality, and not bringing out to them the fatted Calf, I mean the Doctrines of the Operations of the bleſſed Spirit of GOD—But here's the Miſfortune, many of us are not led by, and therefore no Wonder, that we cannot talk feolingly of the HOLY GHOST—We ſubſcribe to our Articles, and make them ſerve for a Key to get into Church-Preferment, and then preach contrary to thoſe very Articles to which we have ſubſcribed—Far be it from me, to charge all the Clergy with this hateful Hypocriſy—No, bleſſed be GOD, there are ſome left among us, who dare maintain the Doctrines of the Reformation, and preach the Truth, as it is in JESUS—But I ſpeak the Truth in CHRIST, I lye not—The Generality of the Clergy are fallen from our Articles, and do not ſpeak agreeable to them, or to the Form of ſound Words, delivered in the Scriptures—Wo be unto ſuch blind Leaders of the Blind! How can you eſcape the Damnation of Hell? It is …ot all your Learning (falſely ſo called) it is not all your Preferments can keep you from the juſt Judgment of GOD—Yet a little while and we ſhall all appear before the Tribunal of CHRIST—There, there will I meet you—There JESUS CHRIST, that great Shepherd and Biſhop of Souls ſhall determine, who are the falſe Prophets, who are the Wolves in Sheep's Cloathing.—Thoſe who ſay, that we muſt now receive and feel the Holy Ghoſt, or thoſe who exclaim againſt it, as the Doctrine of Devils.
But I can no more. It is an unpleaſing Taſk to cenſure any Order of Men, eſpecially thoſe who are in the Miniſtry—Nor would any thing excuſe it but Neceſſity: That Neceſſity which extorted from our LORD himſelf ſo many Woes againſt the Scribes and Phariſees, the Letter-learned Rulers and Teachers of the Jewiſh Church—And ſurely, if I could bear to ſee People periſh for lack of Knowledge, and yet be ſilent towards thoſe who keep from them the Key of true knowledge, the very Stones would cry out.
Would we reſtore the Church to its primitive Dignity▪ the only Way is to live and preach the Doctrine of CHRIST, and the Articles to which we have ſubſcribed. Then we ſhall find the Number of Diſſenters will daily decreaſe, and the Church of England become the Joy of the whole Earth.
I am now, in the Third Place, to ſhew the Reaſonableneſs of this Doctrine.
I ſay, the Reaſonableneſs of this Doctrine—For however it may ſeem Fooliſhneſs to the natural Man, yet to thoſe, who have taſted of the good Word of Life, and have felt the Power of the World to come, it will appear to be founded on the higheſt Reaſon, and is capable, to thoſe who have Eyes to ſee, even of a Demonſtration—I ſay of a Demonſtration: For it ſtands on this Self-evident Suppoſition, that we are fallen Creatures, or, to uſe the Scripture-Expreſſion, Have all died in Adam.
I know indeed 'tis now no uncommon thing amongſt us, to deny the Doctrine of original Sin, as well as the Divinity of JESUS CHRIST, who is GOD over all, bleſſed forever—But it is incumbent on thoſe who deny it, firſt to diſprove the Authority of the Holy Scriptures—If thou canſt prove, thou Unbeliever, that the Book, which we call The Bible, does not contain the lively Oracles of GOD; if thou canſt ſhew, that holy Men of Old, did not write this Book, as they were inwardly moved by the Holy Ghoſt, then will we give up the Doctrine of original Sin—But unleſs thou canſt do this, we muſt inſiſt upon it, that we are all conceived and born in Sin; if for no other, yet for this one Reaſon, becauſe that GOD, who cannot lye, has told us ſo.
But what has Light to do with Darkneſs, or polite Infidels with the Bible? Alas! as they are Strangers to the Power, ſo they are generally as great Strangers to the Word of GOD. And therefore, if we will preach to them, we muſt preach from their Hearts: For talking in the Language of the Scripture, is but like talking in an unknown Tongue. Tell me then, O Man, whoſoever thou art, that denieſt the Doctrine of original … if thy Conſcience be not ſeared as with a …ot Iron! Tell me, if thou doſt not find thyſelf by Nature to be a Motly Mixture of Brute and Devil? I know theſe Terms will ſtir up the whole Phariſee in thy Heart; but let not Satan hurry thee hence. Stop a little, and let us reaſon together. Doſt thou not find, that by Nature thou art prone to Pride? Otherwiſe, wherefore art thou now offended? Again, doſt not thou find in thyſelf the Seeds of Malice, Revenge, and all Uncharitableneſs? And what are theſe but the very Tempers of the Devil? Again, do we not all by Nature follow, and ſuffer ourſelves to be led by our natural Appetites, always looking downwards, never looking upwards to that GOD, in whom we live, move, and have our Being? And what is this but the very Nature of the Beaſts that periſh? Out of thy own Heart therefore will I oblige thee to confeſs, what an inſpired Apoſtle … long ſince told us, that the whole … Nature lies in the Wicked One, i. … … Devil▪ that we are no better than thoſe whom St. Jude calls Brute Beaſts. For we have Tempers in us all by Nature, that prove to a Demo…ſtration, that we are altogether Earthly, Senſual, Deviliſh.
And this by the Way will ſerve as another Argument, to prove the Reality of the Operations of the bleſſed Spirit on the Hearts of Believers, againſt thoſe falſe Profe…ors, who deny there is any ſuch Thing as Influences of the Holy Spirit that may be felt. For if they will grant that the Devil worketh, and that ſo as to be felt in the Hearts of the Children of Diſobedience (which they muſt grant, unleſs they will give an Apoſtle the Lie) where is the Wonder that the good Spirit ſhould have the ſame Power over thoſe that are truly obedient to the Faith of JESUS CHRIST?
But to return. If it be true then, that we are all by Nature a Motly Mixture of Brute and Devil, it is evident, that we all muſt receive the Holy Ghoſt, e'er we can dwell with and enjoy GOD.
When you read how the Prodigal in the Goſpel was reduced to ſo low a Condition, as to eat Husks with Swine, and how Nebuchadnezzar was turned out, to graze with Oxen, I am confident, you pity their unhappy State. And when you hear, how JESUS CHRIST will ſay, at the laſt Day, to all that are not born again of GOD, Depart from me ye Curſed, into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, do not your Hearts ſhrink within you, with a ſecret Horror? And if Creatures with only our Degree of Goodneſs cannot bear, even the Thoughts of dwelling with Beaſts or Devils, to whoſe Nature we are ſo nearly allied, how do we imagine, GOD, who is infinite Goodneſs and Purity itſelf, can dwell with us, while we are Partakers of both their Natures? We might as well think to reconcile Heaven and Hell.
When Adam had eaten the forbidden Fruit, he fled and hid himſelf from GOD. Why? becauſe he was naked; that is, he was alienated from the Life of GOD, the due Puniſhment of his Diſobedience. Now we are all by Nature naked and void of GOD, as he was at that Time, and conſequently, till we are changed, and cloathed upon by a Divine Nature again, we muſt fly from GOD alſo.
Hence then appears the Reaſonableneſs of our being obliged to receive the Spirit of GOD. It is founded on the Doctrine of Original Sin. And therefore you will always find that thoſe who talk againſt feeling the Operations of the Holy Ghoſt, very rarely, or very ſlightly at leaſt, mention our Fall in Adam. No, they refer St. Paul's Account of the Depravity of Unbelievers, only to thoſe of old Time. Whereas 'tis obvious, on the contrary, that we are all equally included under the Guilt and Conſequences of our firſt Parent's Sin, even as others; and to uſe the Language of our own Church-Article, bring into the World with us a Corruption, which renders us liable to GOD's Wrath, and Eternal Damnation.
Should I preach to you any other Doctrine, I ſhould wrong my own Soul; I ſhould be found a falſe Witneſs towards GOD … And he that preaches any … Doctrine, howſoever dignified and diſtinguiſhed ſhall bear his Puniſhment whoſoever he be.
From this plain Reaſon then appears the Neceſſity why we, as well as the firſt Apoſtle, in this Senſe, muſt receive the Spirit of GOD.
For the great Work of Sanctification, or making us holy, is particularly referred to the Holy Ghoſt. And therefore our LORD ſays, Unleſs a Man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of GOD.
For JESUS CHRIST came down to ſave us not only from the Guilt, but alſo from the Power of Sin. And however often we have repeated our Creed, and told GOD we believe in the Holy Choſt, yet if we have not believed in him, ſo as to be really united to JESUS CHRIST by him, we have no more Concord with JESUS CHRIST than Belial himſelf.
And now, my Brethren, what ſhall I ſay more? Tell me, are not many of you offended at what has been ſaid already? Do not ſome of you think, though I mean well, yet I have carried the Point a little too far? Are not others ready to cry out, If this be true, who then can be ſaved? Is not this driving People into Deſpair?
Yes, I ingenuouſly confeſs it is. But into what Deſpair? A Deſpair of Mercy through CHRIST? No, GOD forbid; but a Deſpair of living with GOD without receiving the Holy Ghoſt. And I would to GOD, that not only all you that hear me this Day, but that the whole World was filled with this Deſpair. Believe me, my Brethren, I have been doing no more than you allow your bodily Phyſicians to do every Day. If you have a Wound in your Bodies, and are in earneſt about a Cure, you bid the Surgeon probe it to the very Bottom. And ſhall not the Phyſician of your Souls be allowed the ſame Freedom? And what have I been doing but ſearching your natural Wounds, that I might convince you of your Danger, and put you upon applying to JESUS CHRIST for a Remedy? Indeed I have dealt with you as gently as I could; and now I have wounded, I come to heal you.
For I was, in the Laſt Place, to exhort you all to come to JESUS CHRIST by Faith, whereby you, even you alſo, ſhall receive the Holy Ghoſt. For this ſpake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him ſhould receive.
This, this is what I long to come to, Hitherto I have been preaching only the Law. but behold I bring you glad Tidings of great Joy. If I have wounded you before, be not afraid; behold, I now bring a Remedy for all your Wounds. For notwithſtanding you are … now ſunk into the Nature of the Beaſt. … Devil, yet if you truly believe on JESUS CHRIST you ſhall receive the quickening Spirit promiſed in the Text, and be reſtored to the glorious Liberties of the Sons of GOD. I ſay, if you believe on JESUS CHRIST. For by Faith we are ſaved; it is not of Works, left any one ſhould boaſt. And however ſome Men may ſay, there is a Fitneſs required in the Creature, and that we muſt have a Righteouſneſs of our own, before we can lay hold on the Righteouſneſs of CHRIST; yet, if we believe the Scripture, Salvation is the free Gift of GOD in CHRIST JESUS our LORD; and whoſoever believeth on him with his whole Heart, though his Soul be as black as Hell itſelf, ſhall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghoſt.—Behold then, I ſtand up, and cry out in this great Day of the Feaſt, Let every one that thirſteth come unto JESUS CHRIST and drink. He that believeth on him, out of his Belly ſhall flow not only Streams or Rivulets, but whole Rivers of living Water. This I ſpeak, my Brethren, of the Spirit which they that believe on JESUS ſhall certainly receive.—For JESUS CHRIST is the ſame yeſterday, to day, and for ever. He is the Way, the Truth, the Reſurrection, and the Life.—Whoſoever believeth on him, though he were dead, yet ſhall he live.—There is no Reſpect of Perſons with JESUS CHRIST.—High and low, rich and poor, one with another, may come to him with an humble Confidence, if they draw near by Faith.—From him we may all receive Grace upon Grace.—For JESUS CHRIST is full of Grace and Truth, and ready to ſave to the u…termoſt all that by a true Faith turn unto him.—Indeed the Poor generally receive the Goſpel, and GOD has choſen the Poor in this World rich in Faith. But though not many mighty, not many noble are called; and though it be caſier for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle, than for a rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of GOD, yet even to you that are rich do I now freely offer Salvation by JESUS CHRIST, if you will renounce yourſelves, and come to JESUS CHRIST as poor Sinners. I ſay, as poor Sinners; for the Poor in Spirit are only ſo bleſſed as to have a Right to the Kingdom of GOD.—JESUS CHRIST calls none to him but thoſe that thirſt after his Righteouſneſs, and feel themſelves weary and heavy laden with the Burden of their Sins.—JESUS CHRIST juſtifies the Ungodly. He came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance.
Do not then ſay you are unworthy; for this is a faithful and true Saying, and worthy of all Men to be received, That JESUS CHRIST came into the World to ſave Sinners; and if you are the chief of Sinners; if you feel yourſelves ſuch, verily JESUS CHRIST came into the World chiefly to ſave you.—When Joſeph was called out of the Priſon-Houſe to Pharaoh's Court, we are told, that he ſtaid ſome Time to prepare himſelf; but do you come with all your Priſon Cloaths about you; come poor, and miſerable, and blind, and naked as you are, and GOD the Father ſhall receive you with open Arms, as he did the returning Prodigal. He ſhall cover your Nakedneſs with the beſt Robe of his dear Son's Righteouſneſs, ſhall ſeal you with the Signet of his Spirit, and feed you with the fatted Calf, even with the Comforts of the Holy Ghoſt.—Oh let there then be Joy in Heaven over ſome of you believing.—Let me not go back to my Maſter, and ſay, LORD, they will not believe my Report.—Harden no longer your Hearts, but open them wide, and let the King of Glory in.—Believe me, I am willing to go to Priſon or Death for you; but I am not willing to go to Heaven without you—The Love of JESUS CHRIST conſtrains me to lift up my Voice like a Trumpet.—My Heart is now full—Out of the Abundance of the Love which I have for your precious and immortal Souls my Mouth now ſpeaketh.—And I could now not only continue my Diſcourſe till Midnight, but I could ſpeak till I could ſpeak no more.—And why ſhould I deſpair of any? No, I can deſpair of no one, when I conſider JESUS CHRIST has had Mercy on ſuch a Wretch as I am.—However you may think of yourſelves, I know that by Nature I am but half a Devil, and half a Beaſt.—The free Grace of CHRIST prevented me.—He ſaw me in my Blood, He paſſed by me, and ſaid unto me, Live.—And the ſame Crace which was ſufficient for me, is ſufficient for you alſo.—Behold, the ſame bleſſed Spirit is ready to breathe on all your dry Bones, if you will believe on JESUS CHRIST whom GOD has ſent.—Indeed you can never believe on, or ſerve a better Maſter, one that is more mighty, or more willing to ſave.—Indeed I can ſay the LORD CHRIST is gracious, his Yoke is eaſy, his Burden exceeding light.—After you have ſerved him many Years, like the Servants under the Law, was he willing to diſcharge you, you would ſay, We love our Maſter, and will not go from him.—Come then, my guilty Brethren, come and believe on the LORD that bought you with his precious Blood.—Look up by Faith, and ſee him whom you have pierced.—Behold him bleeding, panting, dying!—Behold him with Arms ſtretched out ready to receive you all.—Cry unto him as the penitent Thief did, LORD, remember us now thou art in thy Kingdom, and he ſhall ſay to your Souls, Shortly ſhall you be with me in Paradiſe.—For thoſe whom CHRIST juſtifies, them he alſo glorifies, even with that Glory which he enjoyed with the Father before the World began.—Do not ſay, I have bought a Piece of Ground, and muſt needs go and ſee it; I have bought a Yoke of Oxen, and muſt needs go prove them; I have married a Wife, I am engaged in an eager Purſuit after the Luſt of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, and therefore cannot come.—Do not fear having your Name caſt out as Evil, or being accounted a Fool for CHRIST's Sake.—Yet a while, and you ſhall ſhine like the Stars in the Firmament for ever.—Only believe, and JESUS CHRIST ſhall be to you Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, and eternal Redemption.—Your Bodies ſhall be faſhioned like unto his glorious Body, and your Souls fall into all the Fulneſs of GOD.
Which may GOD of his infinite Mercy grant, &c.